Overnight we had a couple of rough swells mostly as we come though the heads at Port Phillip Bay and a little further out into Bass Straight, but before long the sea became calm. Hence we had no trouble sleeping, and waking with the sunrise at 5.45am.
Again, as it was so smooth I was able to stand in the shower, something I did not attempt on the Diamond Princess. I wonder if it is because we are on much lower deck, and there is far less movement.
We got to the Buffet for breakfast about 6.40am (the MDR doesn’t open until 7am) besides the Buffet breakfast has plenty of choices. I had low fat muesli, with natural yoghurt and berries (galore!) This morning things were a lot quieter as it was so much earlier than yesterday. Chris had a bit of a crisis trying to get milk, as he was trying to get it out of the tank rather than the vacuum pump - he finally got it with David’s help! (Sorry Chris but it was funny to watch & and yelling across the Buffet would not have been a good look). As we were docking during breakfast Pete shot outside to get some photos.
Our Berth
Being Turned around
Disembarkation was again on Deck 5 - very convenient for us, but this time on the starboard side so we were able to be one of the first ones off. This time Pete put the chair in free wheel mode and I was taken down the gangway by two of the porters, (initially I had about 5 men trying to all help me at once!)
The first free shuttle bus was waiting on the wharf, but it was not accessible. The Hotel Director - Tom Brady was one the wharf and we chatted to him. He was concerned that when we embarked the tide would rise 3 metres and it would be necessary to carry me up the stairway which they would have to use instead (this could be interesting!!!). He advised there were two accessible buses (white) on the shuttle fleet.
While waiting for the white shuttle we had the opportunity to shake hands with the Mayor of Burnie and chat. Very nice chap who was interested to meet & chat with passengers.
Those pesky photographers!
The Mayor in the mayoral garb. (And yes Patty he was the 'real' Mayor not a fake one!)
As the port was a working port, all passengers had to be shuttled off the wharf, and the port staff took security very very seriously. The bus ride to Makers Workshop was only 5 minutes. All the buses were manned by volunteers giving a brief talk on Burnie and surrounds.
At the Makers Workshop my cousins, Paul and Meg were already there waiting for us. Paul in the car and Meg inside taking in all the various crafts and skills on display, and of course shopping. It was so good to see them. Meg had meticulously organized the day, and they had done a ‘pre route’ run, so they knew how long it would take to get places.
Driving along the shoreline to Devonport I took heaps of photos out of the car - point and shoot. By now most of the clouds had dispersed to become a beautiful sunny day, although still a little windy.
Once in Devonport we drove up Steele Street but ended up on Don Road by mistake, so back tracked a few streets and then onto Best Street up to the end to be on Surrey Street. We took a left turn then over Steele Street and we were at the old home of my grandparents - just one house from the corner #26. The house had been reclad and had new aluminum windows fitted so it looked different. Pete took photos out of the car window as we didn‘t like to go in and disturb the current owners.
26 Surrey Street - my grandparents old home
View from the road outside the house.
From there we drove towards the town centre and found a Coles Supermarket where Pete bought flowers, as the next stop was to be the cemetery to see my grandparents’ plots.
We had a bit of time to kill before going to the Cemetery, as we were meeting cousins on my grandmothers side there. (Yes I know that sounds weird!!)
So Paul took us for a drive along the waterfront of Devonport, which my sister and I remember well from our childhood holidays with our grandparents. The following are a selection, as we took heaps (under instruction from my sister!)
The it was onto the Cemetery - unfortunately we were at the wrong one initially - Devonport Cemetery instead of Mersey Lawn Cemetery
When we got there Graham Davis (my mothers’ first cousin) was there waiting as promised with wife Bev and daughter Pam. Meeting was to be brief as Pam and the boys were flying to Brisbane
While we chatted, Pete said he would go find the plaques. I had written down the reference numbers but not the Lawn Number. He couldn’t find them, so Pam headed up and joined in the hunt. Pam eventually came back and said it was no good, perhaps I could ring Uncle Jack and get some help. Out came the trusty mobile and fortunately I had his number (From our time in Noosa in October) and rang. While I was talking to Aunt Anita be shouted out he had found them - they were partially buried under the kikuyu grass, which had grown over the plaques over the years as they had never been attended to.
Graham raced up the hill to have a look (it wasn’t too far from us) before he returned to say goodbye. As he got in the car, I remembered we needed photos!! So Pete quickly took a couple of all the family members.
Graham Davis, me, Pam Davis, Meg Gilby, Beverley Davis
After the Davis
Pete starting to clear the almost buried plaques
It was very emotional for me, especially as my Mum never returned to Tasmania
By this time it was 11.30am so we decided that although our lunch booking at the Chocolate Factory Café was for 12.30 we may as well go there. Anvers was set in a lovely old homestead in beautiful grounds. Meg asked if we could have a table outside (she had pre-booked) but unfortunately all of those tables were already taken. The lunch menu was interesting and I opted for bruschetta with dried tomato, mushrooms, capsicums and parmesan cheese which was huge, but so delicious that I ate it all. This time Pete manage the “sorry excuse me I need to go to the toilet” routine and sneak up to the cashier to pay the bill before Paul got the chance, as they always want to pay for everything. The least we could do when they had come all the way from Hobart
Paul wasn't hungry so he ordered the burger and it was larger than any of the other meals!!!
Paul Meg and I out the front of Anvers
Proof that Anvers was open but not the Factory (a highlight of one of the Celebrity Tours and they drove straight past!!!)
As we were getting back into the car I spotted a young girl trying the change a tyre. As usual Pete could not leave her to battle on her own, so went over and assisted. I was astounded that so many men had walked past and not offered at all. When they were finished one of the waitresses came out of offer them both water and to make use of the bathroom to clean up.
Now it was time make our way back to Makers Workshop as we had been told the last shuttle was 3.30pm not 4.15pm as advertised. We couldn‘t quite understand why as the ship was not departing. The drive back was lovely, so little traffic on a four lane highway.
We got back to Makers Workshop with plenty of time, so we could have a look at crafts. Unfortunately we had to leave after 5 minutes as one of the accessible buses had arrived.
The shuttle went back via the town centre of Burnie, picking up passengers on the way. At Stop 2 we saw Mike but he refused a ride saying he would walk. We arrived at Stop 3 at the same time as him!!! And he still refused to get on… Meanwhile three crew members (whom we later identified as part of the orchestra on board) got off, for the last chance to have a beer ashore!
Back at the wharf I was disappointed to find that I was not going to be carried up the stairs as they had put a small gangway in place entering on Deck 3 (where the Naughty Room is)! So no close encounters with the crew for me…
We dropped our things back in the cabin and headed for the Sunset Bar for Sailaway. It was bitterly cold up there so Pete had to go back and get a cardigan for me. It may have been alright if I had sat in the sun, but I had already had enough for the day, plus I wanted to do my Blog. As Sailaway was 5pm, we had at least an hour and half to kill. Not that was a problem as there was already plenty of Ccer’s there is socialize with. As it didn’t look like I would get much done I just wrote some bullet points.
As the ships pulled away a band of 6 pipers piped us off - and they wore safety vests over their kilts!!!!
Band complete with fluro vests!
Once we were underway the cold breeze disappeared and it became quite warm. Seeing the coast of Tasmania
By 6pm we decided it was time to head back to our cabin to freshen up and get changed for dinner. For some reason there didn’t seem to be anything on in any of the venues musically so we stopped in Cova for a pre-dinner drink and Tapas. We had a wonderful conversation with the waitress who is from Peru
The 7pm show in the Celebrity Theatre was Annie Frances, so we joined Colin and Patty. We enjoyed most of it until she sang a whole lot of Country, which we don’t particularly like. We snuck out and went down to the MDR for dinner.
We were seated at a table for two again in Raymond’s area. He is a very competent waiter, who appears to be training a girl, as she seems a little nervous and lost when he is not there. The wine waiter (who’s name I have yet to get) talked us into a red wine, which I then regretted as there was Oysters as an Appetizers, and together they are a no-no for me. I opted for Pate instead and we both ordered the tenderized beef. It was sensational and I just had to eat it all, which definitely no room for dessert.
After dinner we retired to the cabin as we were exhausted - me from an emotional day and Pete from a lot of sun, running around the Cemetery and a few beers!
Tonight we had to put our watches forward an hour as we start crossing the channel.
Sounds like you had a great stop in Tassy. We love Anvers, we had lunch their and the food and service was great when we were there for our honeymoon. Its a great place.
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